Color, sporty styles dominate New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Polished sporty styles and neon citrus colors emerged as strong trends at New York Fashion Week, which ends on Thursday, for spring/summer 2012 as consumers look for more versatile fashion.

Dubbed urban sport and athletic chic, the designs featured fabrics such as mesh, neoprene and parachute silk and relaxed yet refined fashion to fit with more casual and active lifestyles, and suit several occasions.

Almost 100 designers have been showing collections for spring/summer 2012 to retail buyers, media and celebrities during New York Fashion Week, with dozens more showing at other venues around the city to coincide with the semi-annual event.

"Urban sport ... is something that women can easily incorporate into their wardrobes and wear not only on the street but in the office as well," said Saks Fifth Avenue senior fashion director Colleen Sherin.

"One of the biggest trends is it's about color, color, color. Really bright energetic colors from citrus brights to pops of neon brights," she said. "It's something that women will really embrace because we see they love to wear color."

Designers including Alexander Wang, Nicholas K, Rebecca Taylor and Rag & Bone featured anoraks, and Rebecca Minkoff, Yigal Azrouel, Tibi, and Charlotte Ronson were among the labels to show relaxed trousers, while the use of bright colors was widespread, with yellow emerging as a favorite.

"As world events get increasingly complicated, clothing that is streamlined, unfussy and headache-free becomes more and more desirable," said Susan Cernek, Glamour magazine's fashion development director.